The Apostle (1 Tim. 4.8.) assureth us that Godliness is profitable for all things. The greatest gain in the world is Godliness, It hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come. Whatsoever drops out of any promise of the Gospel, falls into the lap of a golly man; the promises are his, and therefore the good of the promise is his. When the promises open at any time, and give forth their virtue, they must needs give it forth to him that is wise, to him that is godly, for godliness hath the promises. When the Apostle had rebuked a sort of men that made godliness only a stalking-horse to get gain, he presently adds, But Godliness is great gain, if a man be content with what he hath. Godliness it self is great gain, if we have no more, but godliness brings in gain, abundance of gain, besides it self. (Matth. 6.35.) Seek first the Kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added (or cast in as an advantage) to you. The Apostle (Rom. 6.21.) puts a kind of holy scorn upon sinners, come, tell me, What fruit had you of those things whereof you are now ashamed? What fruit have you by your folly, pride, worldliness, envy, what fruit have you found in these things? Bring me in an account of your gain by trading in any sin. The end of these things is death; there is no great profit in that. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Here are fruits good store, and all good fruits both for here and hereafter. We can never want fruit our selves, while we are bringing forth fruit unto God: All obedience is attended with a blessing, and though as was touched before, we cannot be the founders of our own blessedness, nor must we merely design our own happiness, or aim ⟨p. 18⟩at our own pro••• […] that is mercenary service) yet we may look at our own happiness and profit, yea and Lay up for our selves a good foundation, as Paul adviseth rich men (1 Tim. 6.1•.) We then make the best of our riches, when we lay up for our selves a good foundation. But can a man lay a foundation of his happiness in his riches? what a rotten foundation will that be? what hay and stubble (in this sense) will gold and silver be? What's the meaning of it then when the Apostle saith, Laying up for your selves a good foundation?
The Apostle (1 Tim. 4.8.) assureth us that Godlinesse is profitable for all things. The greatest gain in the world is Godlinesse, It hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come. Whatsoever drops out of any promise of the Gospel, fals into the lap of a goly man; the promises are his, and therefore the good of the promise is his. When the promises open at any time, and give forth their vertue, they must needs give it forth to him that is wise, to him that is godly, for godlinesse hath the promises. When the Apostle had rebuk'd a sort of men that made godlinesse onely a stalking-hors to get gain, he presently adds, But Godlinesse is great gaine, if a man be content with what he hath. Godlinesse it selfe is great gaine, if we have no more, but godlinesse brings in gaine, abundance of gaine, besides it selfe. (Matth. 6.35.) Seeke first the Kingdome of God, and the righteousnesse thereof, and all these things shall be added (or cast in as an advantage) to you. The Apostle (Rom. 6.21.) puts a kind of holy scorne upon sinners, come, tell me, What fruit had you of those things whereof you are now ashamed? What fruit have you by your folly, pride, worldlinesse, envy, what fruit have you found in these things? Bring me in an account of your gaine by trading in any sin. The end of these things is death; there is no great profit in that. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Here are fruits good store, and all good fruits both for here and hereafter. We can never want fruit our selves, while we are bringing forth fruit unto God: All obedience is attended with a blessing, and though as was toucht before, we cannot be the founders of our own blessednesse, nor must we meerly designe our own happinesse, or aime ⟨p. 18⟩at our owne pro••• 〈…〉 that is mercenary service) yet we may look at our owne happinesse and profit, yea and Lay up for our selves a good foundation, as Paul adviseth rich men (1 Tim. 6.1•.) We then make the best of our riches, when we lay up for our selves a good foundation. But can a man lay a foundation of his happinesse in his riches? what a rotten foundation will that be? what hay and stubble (in this sense) will gold and silver be? What's the meaning of it then when the Apostle saith, Laying up for your selves a good foundation?